Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

Slow cooker BBQ pulled pork is the best recipe when you want a flavorful, no-fuss meal that can feed a crowd. With just a few simple ingredients and a hands-off cooking process, this pulled pork turns out tender, juicy, and loaded with BBQ flavor.

Serve it on soft buns with coleslaw, roll it up in burrito wraps, or even use it as a topping for pizza. The options are endless!

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Here is Why This Crockpot Pork Recipe Works

Set it and forget it: The slow cooker does all the work while you go about your day; no babysitting required!

Tender perfection: With a long, low and slow cook time, the pork practically falls apart on its own.

Versatile as heck: Pulled pork sandwiches, burrito wraps, pizza toppings, nachos… whatever you’re craving, this pork is ready to party.

Crowd-pleaser: Whether it’s a family dinner or a backyard BBQ, this shredded pork recipe feeds a hungry crew with minimal effort…. no one’s leaving the table hungry!

The Ingredients

• Meat: Pork butt 
• Produce: Onion
• Pantry: Apple juice, BBQ seasoning rub, Worcestershire sauce, Barbecue sauce

Recipe Variations 

Here are some easy variations that will add a twist to your pulled pork dinners. You can even experiment with different flavors of bbq sauce or swap the apple juice for beer.

Smoky Chipotle Pulled Pork: Add 2 chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce to the slow cooker. Make sure you don’t add the whole can though, or it will be too spicy.

Hawaiian Pulled Pork: Add ½ cup of pineapple juice and ½ cup of diced pineapple to the slow cooker for a sweet twist on pulled pork.

Korean BBQ Pork: Swap the barbecue sauce for ½ cup of Korean BBQ sauce and add 2 tablespoons of gochujang.

Tips for Success

• If you have a few extra minutes, sear the pork butt in a hot skillet before adding it to the slow cooker. It’ll add an extra layer of rich, caramelized flavor.
  
• Save the juices you drain off to mix into the pulled pork later in case you want it to be saucier. 
  
• While the high setting works in a pinch, cooking the pork on low gives the pork more time to develop extra flavor. 
  
• Use two forks to pull the pork apart right in the slow cooker; no need to dirty another dish.
  
• When draining the hot cooking juices, be cautious so the pork doesn’t fall out while tipping the slow cooker.
  
  You can also use a turkey baster to remove the juices or simply take the pork out, pour off the liquid, and then place the pork back in the pot before shredding.

Storage

To store leftover pulled pork, let it cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container.

• Refrigerating: Store the shredded pork in the fridge for up to 4 days. 
• Freezing: Place it in a freezer-safe container to prevent freezer burn. You can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. 
• Reheating: Reheat the pork in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between until heated through.

For more slow cooker main dishes, try our crock pot pork chops or our slow cooker green chile chicken.

The Best way to Slow Cook Dinner in the Crockpot

This crock pot BBQ pulled pork brings big, bold flavors with minimal effort, making it perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings. It’s versatile, whether served in sandwiches, wraps, or even on nachos. Plus, the leftovers reheat beautifully, so you can enjoy it for days.

If you like this recipe, try our Traeger pork shoulder.

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BBQ Crock Pot Pulled Pork

By Dahn Boquist

Tender, juicy BBQ pulled pork made in the slow cooker with a simple rub, apple juice, and barbecue sauce. Perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or pizza, and great for feeding a crowd!

Servings: 10 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 8 hours hrs

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Ingredients 

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• ▢ 4 tablespoons BBQ seasoning rub
• ▢ 3-½ to 4 pound pork butt or pork shoulder
• ▢ 1 medium onion, sliced
• ▢ 1-½ cups apple juice
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• ▢ 1 to 1-½ cups barbecue sauce

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Instructions 

• Rub the BBQ seasoning all over the pork.
• Toss the sliced onion in the slow cooker and place the pork on top of the onion slices.
• Add the apple juice and Worcestershire to the pot and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 5 to 6 hours. The pork should pull apart easily with a fork when it is done.
• Drain most of the juices out of the crock pot and save them for later (it is ok to leave some of the liquid because it helps make everything a bit more saucy).
• Shred the pork directly in the crockpot then stir in the barbecue sauce ½ cup at a time until it is as saucy as you like. If you want to thin the sauce out, add back some of the drained cooking juices.
• Serve on soft buns with coleslaw.

Video

Notes

Add barbecue sauce ½ cup at a time and adjust to your preferred level of sauciness.

Save the cooking juices and mix them back into the pulled pork if it needs a little extra moisture.

This pulled pork freezes well. Store it in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months!

Besides sandwiches, try using the pulled pork in wraps, on pizza, nachos, or even in tacos.

Searing the pork before slow cooking adds extra flavor, but it’s totally optional! 

 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 300kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 31g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 95mg, Sodium: 423mg, Potassium: 712mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 14g, Vitamin A: 222IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 98mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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